Week 6 Lowcountry Game Balls
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Each week of the regular season, we’ll recognize the top players in the Lowcountry who took their game to another level. It’s time to give out our game balls for Week 6 of the 2023 season. KJ Asbury SC #68…
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Continue ReadingEach week of the regular season, we’ll recognize the top players in the Lowcountry who took their game to another level. It’s time to give out our game balls for Week 6 of the 2023 season.
In his toughest matchup yet, Philip Simmons running back KJ Asbury passed with flying colors. The talented senior paved the way for the Iron Horses against a tough Beaufort defense, rushing for 186 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. His exceptional power and vision were evident on a key 40-yard touchdown run, taking the direct snap and speeding through an open hole past a diving defender to the end zone. A strong workhorse who is exceptional at breaking tackles and quickly finding open seams, Asbury continues to be the catalyst for an Iron Horses team that’s looking like a contender in Class 3A.
Philip Simmons needed its defense to step up in a monstrous region clash with Beaufort, and senior Josh Gant stepped up to the challenge. Gant delivered an outstanding performance at linebacker, swallowing up a strong Eagle run game with a total of 9.5 tackles and three stops for loss. His extraordinary relentless pursuit allows him to make stops from any angle, and he never gives up on being the one to finish off a play. He’s become an anchor of a defense that has complemented a high-flying offensive attack.
In a statement game against his former team, Bluffton quarterback Owen Bayes delivered to pick up a massive region victory at home over Hilton Head. Bayes made clutch throws all night long with his growing array of weapons, completing 17 of 29 passes for 314 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. He was poised in the biggest moments, connecting on a crucial fourth down early in the game and bouncing back from an interception with two touchdown passes including a perfectly-placed ball over the shoulder on the go-ahead strike to Kyler Vick. Bayes has started to grasp Hayden Gregory’s offense well and should give Bluffton a chance to make some noise this year in Region VII-4A.
Highlights
DeShawn Tompkins
DeShawn Tompkins
After scoring just seven points a week ago, Cane Bay’s offense bounced back in a big way thanks to a big night from senior DeShawn Tompkins. The veteran back dominated Wando’s defense on Friday night, racking up 147 yards highlighted by a game-changing 92-yard touchdown run. He’s shown an electric burst of speed and exceptional vision to find open seams for explosive runs. Thompkins is a threat to take it the distance any time he gets the rock in his hands and will be tough to hold down going forward in a challenging Region VI-5A.
Max Cates
Max Cates
James Island rolled past Colleton County on Friday to begin region play, and senior defensive back Max Cates led the way to help pitch a shutout. Cates impressed with his hustle from the secondary, making 11 total tackles and shutting down the Cougars’ passing game. He’s a high-IQ player with excellent intensity and motor to make textbook-open field tackles on a consistent basis. A quick and agile defender who’s become a reliable all-around playmaker for the Trojans, Cates should continue to be a workforce on defense for the Region VII-4A frontrunners.
After a tough loss against a solid Brookland-Cayce team, Zion Dobson rebounded with an excellent showing at Ridgeland to open region play. Dobson weaved his way through an underrated Jaguar defense on Friday, going for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries to power the Hurricanes’ offense. He’s turned up his game to a new level this year with quicker instincts in the backfield and lethal breakaway speed. He’s at 1,174 yards and 14 touchdowns to go with a receiving score through seven games this year, and the best could be yet to come for the senior back.